Frame exchange mechanisms for quilting machines



March 10, 1964 A. SCHWARZBERGER 3,124,256

FRAME EXCHANGE MEcHANIsMs FOR QUILTING MACHINES Filed NOV. 14, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: ARTHUR lSCHWARZBERGER ATTORNEYS.

March 10, 1964 A. scHwARzBERGER 3,124,256

FRAME EXCHANGE MECHANISMS FOR QUILTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 14, 1960 JNVEN TOR.' ARTHUR SCHWARZBERGER ATTORNEY S.

March 10, 1964 A. SCHWARZBERGER 3,124,256

FRAME EXCHANGE MECHANISMS FOR QUILTING MACHINES Filed NOV. 14. 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: ARTHUR SCHWARZBERGER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Utilice 3,124,256A Patented Mar. l0., 19643,124,256 FRAME EXCHANGE MECHANISMS FOR QUILT ING MACHNES ArthurSchwarzherger, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Shirley Schwarzherger, doingbusiness as A-B Mfg. C0., Chicago, Ill.

Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 68,801 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) My inventionrelates to machines which sew line stitching in quilt forming materials.These are carried in frames which move between a preparing table and acarrier; and the materials receive the line stitching operation while inthe carrier. Thus, a given quilt unit is mounted in a frame. The latteris placed on the carrier, and the line stitching operation occurs whilethe quilt unit is on the carrier. During this process the next quiltunit to be stitched is prepared in a second frame identical with theiirst, but mounted on a table located opposite the carrier. Here the newquilt unit is stretched taut and clamped; and when the previous quiltunit has been fully line stitched, the frames are exchanged, whereby tolocate the finished quilt unit over the table for removal lfrom itsframe, while the prepared quilt unit receives the stitching operation.This process is performed in a machine treated in my co-pending patentapplication -iiled March 23, 1960I under Serial No. 17,133, now UnitedStates Letters Patent 3,044,624, issued July 17, 1962.

In the aforesaid machine, the instrumentalities `for moving the iframewith the nished quilt unit to a frontal position over the table involvea set of sweep arms and extensive controls for the operation of thesame. To depart from this arrangement, the main object of the presentimprovement is to simplify and reduce the expanse of the `frame exchangemechanism, so that it will require but a single manual control to put itin action and a single automatic control to stop its operation.

A Vfurther object is to substitute a compact chain-driven mechanism forthe sweep arm `device formerly employed, with a simple motor drive Iforsuch mechanism instead of the pneumatic system used in the -devicereferred to.

Another object is to eliminate idle motion in the framepropellingmechanism by the utilization of all movements therein for the propulsionof the work-bearing frames.

An important object is to include a differential speed factor in theframe-propulsion drives, whereby to accelerate the departure of theprepared-unit frame from the table in order to insure ample clearancefor the mounting of the finished-unit frame thereon.

In accordance with the #foregoing a better understanding of theimprovement may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- FiG. 1 is a top plan View of .the entire machine, duplicatingFIG. 1 in my aforesaid patent application Ifor the most part;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the showing in lFIG. 1, viewed from theright-hand side thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged duplication of the left-hand portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. -6 is an enlarged duplication of a gear :box shown in the lowercenter part of FIG. y4;

FIG. 7 is a right-hand side view of the showing in FLIG. `6, partlybroken away; and

FIG. 8 is an elevation of a hook detail.

The stitching facility and the carriers are shown and described indetail in my co-pending patent application on Follower Unit for QuiltingMachines, filed on January 5, 1960, under Serial No. 548. However, briefmention will be made of these units in the present case to help identifythem. Thus, specic reference to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings indicatesthe bridge frame of the stitching unit at 2d, the left-hand post thereofat 20a, the right-hand post at Zilb, and the sewing machine within thebridge `frame at 2l. The same figure also shows a pair of oor rails 30extending along the front and rear of the bridge frame 20, respectively.These rails are secured to the oor of lthe space occupied by themachine, and are designed to form a track for the travel of a carrier 32in the lower par-t of the machine from side to side in the space betweenthe posts. The carrier 32 is formed with cross-bars 33, and has wheels35 which ride on the rails 30.

The side bars of the carrier 32 are also `formed to serve as a tracklfor an upper carrier 4) whose travel is crosswise of the track railsEll, that is, between front and rear positions. The carrier 4t) also hascross-bars `4l and wheels 42 which ride on the side rbars of the carrier32.

Mounted as described, the upper carrier 4G may not only be moved forthand back, but from side to side with the lower carrier 32, as the latterrides the track rails 30. This permits any object on the carrier 40 tobe wheeled in any lateral direction, such as to follow the meshes of aquilting pattern 45 located underneath the machine.

FIG. l shows a quilt unit at 5l? as clamped in a frame 51, the latterbemg mounted on the carrier 40. The assembly of the lframed quilt uni-tand the carriers may now be wheeled by hand to the position where theyfollower 47 engages the starting point of the patte-rn detail 45a. Anelectric motor 53 in the carrier 46, and a motor (not shown) for thesewing machine, may now be actuated by suitable controls to set thefollower and stitching operation in motion `for imposing the stitchingline in the work unit Sli according to the design of the pattern. Whilethis operation is in progress, the other quilt unit frame '55 rests on atable Gil shown in the bottom part of FIG. l and in enlarged sideelevation of FlG. 3. The main operation in the present apparatus is towithdraw the yframe 51 from the carrier assembly when the line stitchingoperation has been concluded, so that such `frame may change places withthe alternate .frame 55 (not shown in FIG. 1) the withdrawing movementof the yframe 5l toward the front, and the rearward sliding movement ofthe alternate frame 55 being accomplished by a mechanism contained inthe table 64).

The completing point in the pattern detail is planned to place thefinished quilt unit 50 in the position shown in FIG. 1 when thestitching operation has ended, that is, at the rear of the table 60; Atthis point the attendant of the machine actuates a control-such as abutton 65 on the post 2011 of .the sewing machine bridge frame 21-toinstitute the operation of the frame-exchange mechanism carried by thetable 69. Such mechanism will now be described.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the sides of the table "66 carry long housings67 which are rounded at the ends and open on the outer sides. Thesehousings accommodate a pair of conveyor chains 68, these havin-g drivesprockets 7@ at the rear and idler sprockets 7l at the front. Theshafts-70a and 71a, respectively-which carry these sprockets arejournaled in the housings 67 as indicated at 73.

The power drives for the table mechanism are grouped on a shelf 60aunderneath the table. The power source is an electric motor 76 fromwhich a belt 177 extends in front of a gearbox 73 mounted on the shelf60a. FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the pulley Sil which receives the motorbelt is carried by a shaft 81 journaled in the front and rear ends ofthe gearbox. The purpose of the motor 3 drive is to transmit positivemotion to the rear sprocket shaft 70a at a given speed in one direction,and motion to a sprocket 83 journaled on the shaft 70a at twice thatspeed in the opposite direction. Ordinarily, a regular belt for onedrive and a crossed-belt for the other direct from the motor shaft wouldbe used for the sake of simplicity. However the load imposed on thedriving mechanism in the present case-plus the presence of a timingfactorrequires the use of chain drives instead of belts; and the purposeof the gearbox therefore is to operate the shaft 70a and sprocket 83 asstated by means of chain drives.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the shaft 81 carries a worm 81a with which agear 85 meshes from above and a gear 86 meshes from below. These gearsare thus driven in opposite directions. The gear 86 is carried by ashaft 86a; and a chain drive S7 extends from this shaft to a sprocket 82on the sprocket shaft 79a. The gear 85 is carried by a shaft 85a; and a2 to 1 speed-reducing chain drive 89 extends from this shaft to thesprocket 83.

FIG. 4 shows that the hub 83a of the sprocket S3 also carries a sprocket91 at a point midway between the sides of the table. A similar sprocket92 is journaled with its hub 92a on the frontal cross-shaft 71a inalinement with the sprocket 91; and a conveyor chain 94 connects thesprockets 91 and 92 as shown in FIG. 5.

When a finished quilt unit is situated in the position Shown in FIG. l,it is in readiness to be transferred to the table 60. To do this thebutton 65 on the bridge frame post Ztlb is actuated to start the motor76. The gearing from the latter puts the lateral conveyor chains 68 inmotion in the direction indicated by arrows in the center of FIG. 3; andthe chains carry means designed to draw on the frame 51 which containsthe finished quilt unit in order to transfer the same to the table. Suchmeans comprise two pairs of -arms 95 carried at spaced points along thechains; and full lines in FIG. 3 show the frontal pair of arms extendedupwardly, while the rear pair of arms extends downwardly. The spacing ofthe rear pair from the frontal pair is half the length of the conveyorchains.

When a pair of arms 95 rises from the rear in the direction of thedot-and-dash arrows in FIG. 3, the arms secure drawing engagement withthe frame 51. As before, the latter has side pins 75 at the front; andthe arms 95 terminate with hooks 97 which engage the iside pins 75 fromunderneath, the hooks having guards 97a to retain the side pins inentrance channels 97b at the source of the hooks. As the latter rise tothe dotted-line position in the same figure, the pins fall into pockets97e offset from the entrance channels 97b. As the hooks rise to thedotted-line position they draw the frame 51 to the dottedline positionA; and, as the hooks continue in forward direction they draw the frameto the dotted-line position B. A clearer view of the hook cavities isshown in FIG. 8. As in the previous structure, FIG. 4 shows that thetable has upstanding side brackets 77 formed with inwardly directed pins77e on which rollers 77d are freely mounted, the bracket having basesbolted at 77a to the table. The side bars of the frame 51 ride on therollers 77d during the forward travel of the frame; and the pockets 97Cof the hooks 97 hold the forward portion of the frame down, so that therear portion thereof may not drag over the carrier 40. When the framehas been carried beyond the dotted-line position B, its forward end isgrasped to draw the rear end off the rollers 77d. Now, such rear endslides over short runways 77e, depressing them to a dotted-line positionagainst the tension of torsion springs 77f, whereby to slide the framedown on the table gently. As the frame 51 reaches the dotted-lineposition B, a lug 68a carried by one of the chains 68 trips a relayswitch 100 suitably wired to the motor, shutting the Vsame off andstopping the travel of the conveyor chains.

Mention was made that during the stitching operation on one framedquilting unit mounted on the carrier 40,

another framed quilting unit was being prepared on the table 60 bystretching and clamping it in a frame identical with the one on thecarrier. It is necessary that the unit on the table be removed to makeroom for the transfer of the finished unit to the table as describedabove, and means for such removal will now be described. It is notedfrom FIG. 5 that the medial conveyor chain 94 is below the table 60, andthat the chain carries a pusher lug a which is projected in outwarddirection. As in the previous case, the pusher lug rises through a slot60C in the center of the table to engage the frame of the prepared quiltunit and push such frame in rearward direction to a point where theframe is almost fully mounted on the carrier 40.

It will be recalled that the travel of the medial conveyor (chain 94 isin reverse direction from that of the outer conveyor chains 68, and attwice the speed thereof. Consequently, the upper run of the chain 94travels in rearward direction as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5; and thechains are so timed that when the pusher lug 105:1 rises through thetable slot 60C, it will bear rearwardly on the prepared unit frame assoon as the finished unit frame has progressed half-way from thedotted-line position A to the one B, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As theprepared unit frame will be pushed at twice the speed of the incomingframe, assurance is had that the table will be cleared of the preparedunit frame well before the finished unit frame is due for deposit on thetable.

When the exchange of frames has been made as described, the automaticshut-off of the motor leaves everything at rest over the table 60; andthe finished quilt unit may therefore be removed from the frame locatedon the table. Then the prepared quilt unit on the carrier 4i! may begiven the line stitching operation. While this operation is in progress,quilt material is deposited and prepared in the frame located on thetable 60. When the line-stitching operation has ended, and the frame 51with the finished quilt-unit is in the position indicated by full linesin FIG. 3, it is time for the exchange of the frames, this process beinginstituted by pushing the starting button 65. as stated before.

The advantages of the improved machine will now be enumerated. First,the mechanism to transfer the workbearing frame from the carrier to thetable has been reduced, not only in terms of parts, but also to thezones of the conveyor chains, leaving the space in and around the lowerpart of the table practically clear of moving parts. Further, theprovision of two pairs of the hooks 97 utilizes each period of chaintravel to simultaneously deposit a frame on the table and present a pairof hooks at the point of pick-up for the next frame on the carrier.Further, the pusher-lug chain also presents a pusher lug during eachturn, with the double-speed factor, in order to preclude any possibilityof interference between the incoming frame and the outgoing one, and toquickly clear the table for the incoming frame. Further, an odd andcompact arrangement in the gearbox procures the opposed conveyor chaindrives with a minimum of parts, and independently of the extent ortiming of such drives. Finally, the simple starting and stoppingcontrols reduce the electrical equirnent for the machine to aninstallation which is simple and familiar to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A frame exchange mechanism comprising a support and a carrierarranged laterally on which commodity bearing frames are adapted to bedeposited singly, a pair of endless-conveyor side chains carried by thesupport and operable with upper runs in a direction departing from thecarrier, arm means fixed to said side chains and movable therewith todraw and elevate each frame from the carrier in said direction to aposition over the support, a third endless conveyor chain operable in adirection opposite that of the side chains intermediately of said pairof side chains and, including an upper arm with a projection to pusheach frame deposited on the support beneath an elevated frame to aposition over the carrier, and driving means connected to andsimultaneously driving the chains in opposite directions making theabove drawing and pushing actions concurrent and the pushing action at agreater rate than said drawing action during each cycle of operation.

2. A frame exchange mechanism comprising a support and a carrierarranged laterally on which commodity bearing frames are adapted to bedeposited singly, a pair of endless-conveyor side chains carried by thesupport and operable with upper runs in a direction departing from thecarrier, coupling means projected from said side chains to draw eachframe from the carrier in said direction to a position over the support,an intermediate conveyor chain operable oppositely from the side chains,with a projection from its upper run effective to push each framedeposited on the support to a position over the carrier, and drivingmeans for the chains making the above drawing and pushing actionsconcurrent, and the pushing action at a greater rate than said drawingaction during each cycle of operation, said driving means cornprising across-shaft with sprockets to drive said side chains, a sprocketjournaled on the cross-shaft to drive the intermediate chain, and apower-operated gear box with a drive to the cross-shaft in a directionto procure said drive for the side chains and a reverse drive to saidsprocket to operate the intermediate chain as stated, the gear boxhaving a power driven worm shaft and a pair of worm gears meshing withthe worm from opposite sides in order to be operated thereby in reversedirections, and said drives leading from the worm gears.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said drive meanscomprises differential drive portions respectively connected to saidpair of endless conveyor chains, and said third endless conveyor chainfor driving said third conveyor chain at a rate of speed twice that ofsaid pair of conveyor chains.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A FRAME EXCHANGE MECHANISM COMPRISING A SUPPORT AND A CARRIERARRANGED LATERALLY ON WHICH COMMODITY BEARING FRAMES ARE ADAPTED TO BEDEPOSITED SINGLY, A PAIR OF ENDLESS-CONVEYOR SIDE CHAINS CARRIED BY THESUPPORT AND OPERABLE WITH UPPER RUNS IN A DIRECTION DEPARTING FROM THECARRIER, ARM MEANS FIXED TO SAID SIDE CHAINS AND MOVABLE THEREWITH TODRAW AND ELEVATE EACH FRAME FROM THE CARRIER IN SAID DIRECTION TO APOSITION OVER THE SUPPORT, A THIRD ENDLESS CONVEYOR CHAIN OPERABLE IN ADIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT OF THE SIDE CHAINS INTERMEDIATELY OF SAID PAIROF SIDE CHAINS AND, INCLUDING AN UPPER ARM WITH A PROJECTION TO PUSHEACH FRAME DEPOSITED ON THE SUPPORT BENEATH AN ELEVATED FRAME TO APOSITION OVER THE CARRIER, AND DRIVING MEANS CONNECTED TO ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY DRIVING THE CHAINS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS MAKING THEABOVE DRAWING AND PUSHING ACTIONS CONCURRENT AND THE PUSHING ACTION AT AGREATER RATE THAN SAID DRAWING ACTION DURING EACH CYCLE OF OPERATION.